At first glance, Karl Karnadi may look like any other 20-something trying to find his place in the world. It doesn’t take long, however, to realize there is something positively different about him.

Consciously argumentative, eagerly opinionated and thoroughly knowledgeable, Karl stands for something many Indonesians still find utterly unfathomable: He is an outspoken atheist, and the founder of the rapidly growing Indonesian Atheists community.

Karl, 29, does not keep his beliefs private, something many other Indonesian atheists have chosen to do in the face of frequent hostility. He makes no bones about his rejection of what he refers to as supernaturally infused beliefs, and he is passionate about fostering a fundamental change in Indonesia while remaining realistic about the challenges.

Furthermore, Karl promotes tolerance, and is far less hostile toward religion than some of the world’s most recognized scholars of nonbelief such as Sam Harris, Daniel C. Dennett and Richard Dawkins.

Established in 2008, Karl’s IA has 677 active members on its Facebook page who discuss the profusion of religiously related topics around the country.

The IA community has also taken part in a variety of scientific and philosophical seminars and gatherings, and has expanded its ties with similar groups outside Indonesia.

“We’ve built a network with other nonbelievers and humanist organizations in Southeast Asia,” Karl says.

With other atheist associations in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore, IA has established a joint Web site called Southeast Asian Atheists, or sea-atheists.org, which hopes to broaden the discussion among atheists from different backgrounds.

“Starting last year, we have also affiliated ourselves with a global network called Atheist Alliance International, through which we build close contacts with similar communities around the world,” Karl said. “From Pakistan, Brazil, Ireland and Afghanistan, there are atheists and agnostics everywhere.”

Karl’s road toward becoming one of the country’s most outspoken atheists was both unique and lengthy. Born in a country where faith takes a strong hold beginning at birth, he grew up religiously in a Christian home.

By his own account, Karl, who now lives in Germany, was brought up in a very religious setting. “My childhood was filled with church activities,” Karl said.

He was even a church pianist up until only two years ago. “I knew nothing about science, about skepticism,” he said. “I wasn’t a rebellious kid compared to others the same age. I accepted all religious teachings and never questioned it in the slightest.”

But his family was also very religiously tolerant. He would often pay visits to acquaintances from other faiths during religious holidays, instilling a sense of open-mindedness, something that would eventually help to shape his atheism.

“I went over to our Muslim neighbors every Idul Fitri to congratulate them. Eventually, every Christmas, our Muslim neighbors would also do the same,” he said. “This very valuable experience has stayed with me, and taught me that religious tolerance is not only possible, but also worth fighting for.”

Karl’s acceptance of his religious upbringing, however, would undergo a crucial change after a move to Germany, where he went to study in his early 20s.

He noticed a change in how many of his Indonesian peers began addressing themselves. Instead of identifying themselves according to a specific Indonesian ethnicity (such as Javanese or Balinese), they referred to themselves as strictly Indonesian. All the different levels of wealth, culture and regional identity that seemed so important back home were suddenly irrelevant.

For Karl this change showed how people, when removed from their comfort zone and placed somewhere foreign, tend to bond with those who are most similar. And while these fellowships might be an obvious psychological response experienced by countless people, for Karl it was something more: An awakening.

He realized that this rare feeling of nationalism was something to strive for, and something that could only be achieved if every Indonesian truly accepted all beliefs. Karl’s convictions evolved into an atypical form of atheism; instead of wanting to rid his country of organized religion, he wanted atheism to be an acknowledged part of a harmonious country. It was unlike most forms of irreligiousness, but Karl was convinced it could work.

“It is sad that only after we experience loneliness in a foreign land are those feelings of nationalism evoked within us,” he said. “Indonesia does not belong to any particular group, nor does it belong to the majority; it belongs to every Indonesian, regardless of their religiosity, or lack thereof. We should always remember this.”

Karl’s transformation from a tolerant-religious person to a tolerant-atheist came after what he calls years of learning and questioning. “I learned that people can be religion-less and still live a happy and moral-filled life full of passion and dreams,” he said.

“My irreligiousness wasn’t shaped in an instant. About eight years ago, I started to acquaint myself with larger philosophical information and knowledge in documentaries and books,” he said.

“At first, I did it all without any intention of leaving my religion. But the more I learned, the harder it was for me to accept any religious teachings, books or anything labeled as ‘holy.’ I started to question, and eventually doubt them.”

Through this doubt, Karl concluded that there was nothing left for him in religion. “I found that all religion basically has the same dogmatism: That you should not question any given teachings,” he said.

He began questioning some of the staunchly religion-based policies in Indonesia, such as why it is compulsory for an Indonesian to be registered under a religion in order to marry, or in some cases, study. The impossibility of even challenging these policies further enraged him.

“Why must we be forced to shut our mouths against publicly criticizing religion or religious beliefs in general?” he said. “I refuse to submit to such restrictions, which are a clear violation of my human rights.”

Once he openly pronounced himself a nonbeliever, Karl realized living by his convictions was going to be a challenge, even as an Indonesian living abroad.

“There are many Indonesian nonbelievers who aren’t as lucky as me,” he said. “Living in Indonesia, they have to lead a double life and are forced to pretend they are religious in order to avoid trouble, discrimination and all forms of negative repercussions, including the violent ones.”

He says that living in Germany shields him from most of his acquaintances’ reactions. As he learned more about atheism and religion, it also became clear just how necessary an open forum was to discuss the variety of beliefs. So it only seems natural that IA came to fruition.

“IA was established to function as a safe haven for the Indonesian nonbelievers, and to eventually accommodate a lot of other people, not just atheists and agnostics, but also some ‘moderate’ Muslim and Christian friends that we have. The IA group has evolved from an exclusive online Facebook group to a real community with real people and real support,” he said.

As IA expands its membership, its notoriety has followed suit. Karl and his peers regularly engage in heated (though rarely immature or disrespectful) arguments on their Facebook page. These debates are not only with religious believers, but also with fellow skeptics.

“It is funny that some people still see our atheist group as the enemy,” Karl said. “All that we are doing is seeking friends and acceptance. While I don’t personally believe in any form of religion, I do believe in religious freedom. And I’ve passionately defended the rights of GKI Yasmin Christians, Shia Islam, Ahmadiyyah and Buddhists to worship according to their beliefs, just as I am defending my own right to not worship anything and to express my opinions freely.”

Though IA has yet to achieve everything Karl and his peers want — namely complete freedom to not believe — they have found comfort in each other’s presence.

“We Indonesian nonbelievers are still highly discriminated against, both by the law and a lot of people, but at least we have each other and no longer feel alone and disheartened,” Karl said.

“We’ve also gotten a lot of support from some of our religious friends who are also very passionate in their fight against religious discrimination.”

Karl said he didn’t know what the future held for IA. “But I dream of an Indonesia where people of various religions or no religion can live side by side without fear. And for Indonesia to truly become a Bhinneka Tunggal Ika [Unity in Diversity] country that sees diversity truly as a strength, not a weakness.”

For more information go to, www.sea-atheists.org/indonesia

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/indonesianatheists
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/indoatheists

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Atheists

Salam dan sampai ketemu di facebook & twitter

IA Gathering Jakarta tersebut diliput di sebuah artikel bhs inggris di Jakarta Globe:

• “Metro Madness: Therapy for the Godless”

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/metro-madness-therapy-for-the-godless/397890

Pada IA Gathering Jakarta tsb dibawakan sebuah presentasi tentang sejarah berdirinya IA, visi IA di masa depan, dan apa kegiatan yg kita lakukan sebagai komunitas. Transkrip dari presentasi tersebut ada di:

• Untuk dibaca langsung di: http://bit.ly/aFS1bP
• Untuk didownload di: http://bit.ly/akRIdI

Salam,
Karl Karnadi

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned Communications and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring against regulating multimedia contents, a plan that sparked strong protests among Internet users this week.

While Yudhoyono did not mention the minister’s name when he issued the warning during a Cabinet meeting here Thursday, he made it clear the warning was meant for Tifatul, who is currently visiting Europe.

The Communications and Information Ministry, which Tifatul heads, has reportedly drafted a ministerial regulation on multimedia content, a move many fear will threaten press freedom and the freedom of speech, despite its aim to “fight cyber crime” including child prostitution.

“I want to remind you all, members of the Indonesian United Cabinet, that if you plan to draft a government regulation or bill, you must first report to the President. After I approve it then you can start drafting the regulation,” Yudhoyono said as he opened the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office.

“Maybe there is a belief at this ministry questioning the freedom in the use of technology and its negative impacts on the community and students … but this is a sensitive issue. You can’t just draft such regulations,” he said.

The President said the public should be involved in the drafting of the regulation, and said the ministry should seriously consider the “urgency” and the “aim” of the regulation, as well as working out how it would be implemented.

He also made clear his position on the issue, saying he was not involved in the plan to issue the regulation, adding that perhaps Tifatul was not either.

The draft of the ministerial regulation is said to have only been discussed at the directorate general level, and apparently had not been approved by Tifatul.

The Alliance of Independent Journalists has slammed the Communication and Information Ministry’s draft regulation on multimedia content, stating that it threatened freedom of the press.

“If the draft was passed, the Indonesian press would face a new era of bans and censorship,” stated the alliance in a press release.

The alliance, known as AJI, stated that the draft’s principle was to ban all internet providers from distributing illegal content and to require them to filer and block illegal content such as pornography and other content which was considered to be “violating decency.”

“The definition of illegal content poses dangers to the press, because there are no definitions about pornography and it could cause multiple interpretations,” AJI chairman Nezar Patria said.

Nezar said that there was nothing in the draft stating that the regulation would not be applicable to the press, even though the draft was contradictory to the Press Law.

“The journalism code of ethics is the only content regulation for press be it print, internet or broadcast,” Nezar said.

Meanwhile, a researcher with Imparsial said that the draft showed that the ministry was heading in the direction of becoming a New Order era censorship board.

“I think the Communication and Information Ministry would be like the Information Ministry during the New Order era,” Al Araf told Metro TV.

He said that multimedia regulation must also consider the public domain.

“The government must apply extra caution regarding the public domain and they must have strong reasons to apply such censorship,” he added.

Imparsial noted that the ministry under Tifatul Sembiring had issued two controversial drafts — the wiretapping draft and the multimedia content.

“The drafts did not have clear orientations and the ministry has a huge authority in both drafts. This is very orthodox and conservative,” he said.

Hundreds of hard-line Muslim protesters staged rallies in cities across the country on Sunday to urge the government to prevent the spread of HIV by implementing Islamic law.

Ahead of World AIDS Day on Tuesday, members of the group Hizbut Tahrir took to the streets in several major cities, including Jakarta, Solo, Yogyakarta and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

“We urge everybody to support the application of Shariah in an Islamic caliphate so that, God willing, all of us will be free from the threat of HIV/AIDS,” Hizbut Tahrir spokeswoman Febrianti Abassuni said in a statement.

In Jakarta, more than 200 female demonstrators urged the government to close down brothels and ban condoms, which they said encouraged “free sex and unhealthy behavior.”

One banner read: “Prostitutes, drug users and homosexuals are the agents of immorality.”

In Pekanbaru, Riau, hundreds of high school students joined a Hizbut Tahrir rally, marching along Jalan Sudirman with posters and banners asking the government to clamp down on the sex industry and drugs to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS.

The protesters said government efforts to counter the spread of the deadly virus did not address the root causes of the problem, which they said were the prevalence of casual sex and homosexuality.

“As a result, the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia has increased quite sharply, as much as sixfold in the last three years,” said Noveriyanti, the chairwoman of the Riau branch of Hizbut Tahrir.

According to data from the Ministry of Health, she added, as of June 2009 there were 17,699 cases of AIDS in the country.

“This situation makes us worry about the future of Indonesia,” she said, “because about 80 percent of the 298,000 people living with HIV/AIDS are in the 20 to 39 age group, so that this nation is in real danger of having a ‘lost generation.’ ”

The protesters called on Indonesians to be obedient to God in all things and asked Muslims to live according to Shariah.

They also demanded that programs providing free condoms for male and female prostitutes be ended and that the sex and pornography industries be closed down.

Around 270,000 Indonesians are estimated to be infected with HIV, and AIDS has claimed about 8,700 lives in a nation of 228 million people, according to the UNAIDS agency.

AFP, Antara

A government minister has blamed Indonesia’s recent string of natural disasters on people’s immorality.

Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring said that there were many television programmes that destroyed morals.

Therefore, the minister said, natural disasters would continue to occur.

His comments came as he addressed a prayer meeting on Friday in Padang, Sumatra, which was hit by a powerful earthquake in late September.

He also hit out at rising decadence – proven, he said, by the availability of Indonesia-made pornographic DVDs in local markets – and called for tougher laws.

According to the Jakarta Globe, his comments sparked an angry reaction on the internet, particularly among those who followed him on social networking site Twitter.

Why focus on public immorality when there was so much within the government, one respondent reportedly asked.

More than 1,000 people died in the Padang earthquake, which toppled hundreds of buildings in and around the city.

Padang lies to the south of Aceh province, which was devastated in the December 2004 Asian tsunami.

Indonesia lies across a series of geological fault-lines and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta – All night entertainment places are to be closed starting Thursday (26/11) until Friday (27/11), in respect to the Eid al-Adha (muslim holiday) that fall on Friday (27/11).

“In respecting the religious festivity”, according to DKI Head of tourism and culture Arie Budhiman, Wednesday (25/11). If any of those places insist to stay open, Arie stated that night entertainment place would be sealed or their licence will be suspended.

The night entertainment places that expected to close are; night clubs, discotiques, saunas, massage parlours, gambling, and independent bars.

While there are two places that are allowed to continue operating, Karaoke and live music. But their operating hour is limited only for five hours, starting at 20.30 until 01.30

TEMPO Interactive, Jombang: The Regency government of Jombang will highly restrict members of its community from showing affection, hugging, and kissing, all of which could lead to sexual activity in public.

This has already been arranged in a new regional decree No.15/2009 about prostitution restriction.

“Certain sanctions and fines will be imposed on those violating the rule,” said Agus Purnomo, from Jombang’s regulation and legal division, on Thursday (12/11).

However, the regulation is not in force yet as it is still waiting for the regency to issue a guideline for its implementation.

Besides forbidding kissing, the regulation also disallows acts of prostitution or even persuading people to be involved in prostitution.